The Fine Art of Lustre: Royal Lancastrian Pottery by Roland Head
Transcription
The Fine Art of Lustre: Royal Lancastrian Pottery by Roland Head
Ceramics Lustre charger, 28cm dia, decorated by William Mycock, Armorial design, dated 1929. Lustre bowl decorated by Charles Cundall, 8.25in wide, c1909. Lustre plate decorated with ‘rampant lion’ design by William Mycock, c1910. The Fine Art of Lustre: Royal Lancastrian Pottery by Roland Head The late Victorian era saw the emergence of an artistic counter-movement that was opposed to the heavily-decorated and elaborate Victorian style of decoration. Instead, it favoured greater simplicity and more elegant lines. Royal Lancastrian Pottery was born at precisely the right moment to take advantage of this opportunity and was fortunate enough to attract a number of people whose talent and creativity made it a reality. Although Royal Lancastrian was in existence for less than forty years, the pottery produced some of the finest art pottery of the twentieth century. Most admired and sought-after are the pottery’s lustre wares, on which we shall concentrate in this article. Lustre vase with cockerel design by Gordon Forsyth, c1910. Lustre vase with arts and crafts design by William Mycock, c1912. A Brief History of the Lancastrian Pottery In 1892, the Pilkington tile company was founded in Clifton, just north of Manchester. The market for tiles was growing rapidly and presented a potentially lucrative opportunity for the Pilkington family, who already owned a successful brick works. William Burton, then a chemist working at Wedgwood, was hired to take control of all matters technical and artistic at the tile works. Although highly successful at this task, he harboured a deep desire to become involved in the making of fine art pottery in the manner of potters such as Bernard Moore, with whom he was friends. In 1897, Burton began to dabble with the production of decorative pottery and managed to gather together sufficient wares to include them in Pilkington’s display at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. The success of this event inspired him to greater efforts and Burton began to increase the scale of his experiments with glazes and shapes. The turning point came in 1903, with the accidental discovery of a new glaze whose potential was judged so exciting it motivated William Burton to decide to start making decorative pottery on a commercial basis. It's important to remember that the use of coloured glazes in pottery was still developing in the early twentieth century. Royal Lancastrian was to ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 08 become a leader in this area, alongside contemporaries such as Bernard Moore, Ruskin and Doulton. Success came quickly and in 1906, 25year old Gordon Forsyth was recruited to take charge of the pottery’s growing team of artists. Although young, the Royal College of Art graduate had already proved himself to be highly able and very creative, two essential requirements. Forsyth’s recruitment coincided with the beginning of volume production of lustre wares and other decorative wares. The pottery gained a royal warrant in 1913 and its success continued until the early 1920s, when the departure of Forsyth led to a gradual loss of direction for the pottery. The harsh economic conditions of the 1930s tightened the noose and in 1937, Pilkington’s decided to cease production at the Lancastrian pottery. Artists & Their Designs The arrival of Gordon Forsyth at Royal Lancastrian in 1906 heralded the creation of a team of artists whose creative freedom and artistry was of the very highest order. Gordon Forsyth’s approach was to encourage his artists to express their personalities in their work. There were no formal patterns and while particular motifs might be shared and reused, every design was original and the work of an individual artist. The five artists listed below were responsible for the majority of lustre ware production throughout the Royal Lancastrian period and should be of particular interest to collectors: • Gordon Forsyth • William Mycock • Charles Cundall • Richard Joyce • Gwladys Rodgers Although there were no set patterns, a number of popular design themes emerged among the lustre artists. Animals and fish proved popular and were often the work of Richard Joyce, whose fish designs are exceptionally collectable today. Other successful themes included Arts and Crafts, Ceramics heraldry, folklore and ships. No less an important ingredient in the Lancastrian mix was the thrower the pottery employed from 1903 to 1936. Edward Thomas Radford was already very highly regarded when he came to Royal Lancastrian. His work at the pottery cemented and enhanced this reputation and he was undoubtedly one of the finest British throwers of his time. All of the thrown shapes produced by the pottery were Radford’s work and a great many were of his own design too, such was the freedom granted him by Burton and Forsyth. Lustre: Science & Art Combined While the Royal Lancastrian pottery produced a great many different wares, its iridescent lustre-glazed pieces were by far the most successful and highly regarded. Iridescence is the effect achieved where ordinary (white) light passes through or is reflected by a substance that refracts (bends) that light. The result is that the white light is split into all its composite colours. The best-known example of this are rainbows, which are formed as a result of sunlight passing through rain drops. There are several stages to producing a true iridescent lustre, which like mother-of-pearl, will reflect light in a myriad of different colours, appearing differently from every angle. Each stage must be absolutely successful if the finished ware is to boast the iridescent, metallic finish so beloved of ceramic artists. The first stage is for the ware to be glazed with a particular glaze and then fired. Following this initial firing, the ware is painted with a special mixture of copper or silver and liquid clay. An additional, usually oilbased, substance is also added, which allows the artist to successfully paint on top of the lustre glaze once it has been fired. The lustre firing is no less complex. The metallic compound must first be oxidised - fired in an oxygen-rich atmosphere - which causes the oxygen and metal to combine. At a precise point in the firing process, the atmosphere in the kiln must be changed to a reducing, oxygen deficient atmosphere. This is done by reducing the flow of air into the kiln and has the effect of separating the oxygen molecules from the metal, leaving the metal behind. The result, if successful, is that the ceramic body will be covered in an extremely thin, uniform, metallic film with true iridescent qualities. Such a body can then be decorated to create the finished ware. This was the technique developed at the Lancastrian pottery between 1903 and 1906. Thoughts for Collectors The Royal Lancastrian pottery produced a considerable volume of other wares in addition to their lustre production. Many of these featured innovative and richly-coloured glazes that had never been seen before. These pieces were also extremely well decorated and remain very attractive today. Despite this, Royal Lancastrian’s lustre wares remain in a league of their own in terms of collectable appeal. Relatively scarce, these pieces represent a level of artistic and technical accomplishment that is genuinely distinguished. Royal Lancastrian’s contribution to twentieth century art pottery was remarkable and owners of such pieces can feel comfortable knowing that their pieces are amongst the very best of their kind. On the next two pages I have included a Price Guide from our Gold Services Database at www.antiques-info.co.uk Editor Lustre bowl decorated by Gwlady Rodgers. 8in wide, c1920. Lustre ginger jar with fish design by Richard Joyce. This design features 17 fish and is a superb example, dating to c1909. Lustre vase decorated by Richard Joyce with heraldic lion design. Lustre vase decorated by William Mycock dated 1925. Lustre vase featuring ‘Sea Maidens’ design by Walter Crane. Decorated by Richard Joyce, dated 1906. Lustre ginger jar decorated with deer by Richard Joyce, c1913. ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 08 Ceramics Selection of Lancastrian Pottery from our Database at www.antiques-info.co.uk 20 10 5 1 Pilkington Lancastrian vase by Richard Joyce, painted in copper lustre, toucans amongst pomegranates/foliage, ruby lustre ground, painted artist cypher datemark 1918, imp’d mark, 32cm high. Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury. May 03. HP: £7,600. ABP: £8,939. Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian squat vase, tall cylindrical neck decorated with fish and scrolled weed, green lustre ground, 7.5in high. Maxwells, Wilmslow. Sep 04. HP: £1,700. ABP: £1,999. Pilkington’s Lancastrian lustre vase by Gordon M. Forsyth, c1907, decorated two lions rampant & foliage, white ground, shape No. 2635, impressed/painted marks, 7.75in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 04. HP: £1,000. ABP: £1,176. 15 Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, painted with 3 graces holding aloft swags of foliage within a garden of orange trees, red ground, 10.75in high. Andrew Hartley, Ilkley. Apr 05. HP: £800. ABP: £941. Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, early 20thC, shouldered form, enriched with silver lustre flowering vine on red ground, flowers picked out in orange, 22cm. Rosebery’s, London. Jun 05. HP: £600. ABP: £705. 21 11 6 16 2 Pilkington’s Lancastrian lustre moon flask by William S. Mycock, c1908, one side decorated with heraldic shield, lion and scrolling foliage, reverse with a Latin motto, ‘It is in vain without the Lord’, shape No. 2715, impressed and painted marks, 10.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 04. HP: £2,000. ABP: £2,352. 3 Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, decorated with 3 galleons, 8.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 02. HP: £1,350. ABP: £1,587. Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, tall slender neck, decorated with fish/seaweed, combined impressed P.L. mark and lustre lion’s head, impressed 2598, 5.5in high. Maxwells, Wilmslow. Sep 04. HP: £960. ABP: £1,129. 7 Art pottery charger by Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian, decorated with mythological creature, motto on reverse, monogram. (W S Mycock). Richard Winterton, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Dec 02. HP: £780. ABP: £917. Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian vase, by William S Mycock, painted with stiff leaves and stylized flowers in blue, red and green lustre, 10.5in high, monogram and impressed marks. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 08. HP: £560. ABP: £658. 22 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre posy vase by William S. Mycock, c1920, decorated with the Latin inscription, ‘I trust to virtue, not arms’, between floral bands, cobalt blue ground, shape No. 3178, imp’d and painted marks, 7.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 04. HP: £1,100. ABP: £1,293. 8 12 17 Pilkington Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, No. 3027, 7.25in. Gorringes, Lewes. Oct 02. HP: £950. ABP: £1,117. 13 Royal Lancastrian pottery vase by Gordon Forsyth, impressed/painted marks, No 3034 X11, 6in high. Maxwells, Wilmslow. Sep 02. HP: £720. ABP: £846. 18 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre vase by R. Joyce, decorated with galleons, bluegreen ground, initialled and impressed marks, 9.25in, some damage. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 06. HP: £450. ABP: £529. 23 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre bottle vase by R. Joyce, c1920, decorated with panel of 4 young maidens holding floral ribbons, foliate bands in shades of gold and red, shape No. 2962, impressed and painted marks, 12.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 04. HP: £2,000. ABP: £2,352. Pilkington’s Lancastrian blue glazed vase with silver lustre decoration of galleons, by Richard Joyce, 4in. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 02. HP: £1,000. ABP: £1,176. 9 Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian slender neck lustre vase, by Richard Joyce, decorated with fish/seaweed, combined P.L. impressed mark, lustre lion’s head & JR monogram, impressed 2761, 5in high. Maxwells, Wilmslow. Sep 04. HP: £920. ABP: £1,082. Pilkingtons Lancastrian lustre vase by Richard Joyce, impressed marks, painted monogram, 6.75in high. Sworders, Stansted Mountfitchet. Dec 01. HP: £640. ABP: £752. 19 4 Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian lustre vase, by Richard Joyce, decorated with fish/seaweed, lustre lion’s head, JR monogram to base, 9in high. Maxwells, Wilmslow. Sep 04. HP: £1,700. ABP: £1,999. Pilkington’s Lancastrian lustre vase by R. Joyce, decorated with tropical fish/ seaweed, ochre ground, shape No. 2922, impressed and painted marks, c1914, 6in. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 04. HP: £1,000. ABP: £1,176. ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 08 Royal Lancastrian lustre vase by W S Mycock, squat bottle form, painted with stylised stiff leaves in olive green, blue ground, 4in wide, painted mark dated 1925. Hartleys, Ilkley. Apr 08. HP: £380. ABP: £446. 24 14 Pilkingtons Lancastrian lustre vase by Richard Joyce, painted with swimming fish in silver, shaded green ground, 5in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 07. HP: £820. ABP: £964. Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre vase. Louis Taylor, Stoke on Trent. Sep 02. HP: £620. ABP: £729. Royal Lancastrian baluster vase, first quarter 20thC, impressed marks, No. 2093, 27cm high. Richard Winterton, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Feb 04. HP: £300. ABP: £352. Ceramics 40 35 25 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian pottery bowl, exterior with a band of scrolling stylised foliage, red ground, interior stencilled with roses/foliage, 34cm dia, impressed factory marks, stencilled monogram for William S. Mycock with datecode for 1911. Bearne’s, Exeter. Jun 05. HP: £300. ABP: £352. 30 Pilkington Lancastrian vase designed by Gordon M Forsyth. (chipped) Great Western Auctions, Glasgow. Mar 06. HP: £220. ABP: £258. 31 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian ivory glazed pottery vase, moulded with stylized lions, impressed with number 3353, 10in high. Dee, Atkinson & Harrison, Driffield. Feb 06. HP: £130. ABP: £152. Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian lustre bowl. Gorringes, Bexhill. Jul 05. HP: £95. ABP: £111. 41 26 Royal Lancastrian pottery vase, by William Mycock, bellied form, painted with stylized trees on a turquoise ground, 8.5in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Oct 06. HP: £300. ABP: £352. Prices quoted are actual hammer prices (HP) and the Approximate Buyer’s Price. (ABP) Includes an average premium of 15% + VAT. Early 20thC Pilkingtons Lancastrian shallow bowl, trailed polychrome glaze, 10.5in. Gorringes, Bexhill. Mar 02. HP: £75. ABP: £88. Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian bottle vase, baluster body, tapered neck and splayed rim, all-over blue mottled glaze, marked to underside 2915, impressed factory mark, 21cm. Gorringes, Bexhill. Mar 05. HP: £110. ABP: £129. 32 27 Edwardian Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian pottery vase designed by R Joyce, textured burnt orange glazed body decorated in relief with fish, impressed 1920-1938 and designer’s inscribed initials, 6in high. Amersham Auction Rooms, Bucks. Jun 04. HP: £280. ABP: £329. 28 Royal Lancastrian pottery vase by Gladys Rogers, bellied sides painted with stylised leaves and berries on a pink ground, 7.25in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb 08. HP: £280. ABP: £329. Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian vase, flared form with raised cabochon about the body, glazed in an iridescent red, shape 2801, impressed mark, 4.75in. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 07. HP: £190. ABP: £223. Pilkington’s Lancastrian ovoid tapered vase, all-over deep red glaze, marked to underside with number 2338, 14cm. Gorringes, Bexhill. Mar 05. HP: £75. ABP: £88. Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian lustre vase by Richard Joyce, classical maidens dancing with garlands, blue ground, painted with cross mark, 8.25in, a.f. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 08. HP: £260. ABP: £305. 38 Royal Lancastrian twin handled vase, curved handles, mottled blue & grey drip glazed body/interior 19cm, impressed factory marks to underside. Rosebery’s, London. Sep 04. HP: £100. ABP: £117. 34 Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian pottery vase, squat form, buff ground, applied turquoise & green mottled lustre glaze, 14cm high, impressed marks to underside. Rosebery’s, London. Sep 04. HP: £150. ABP: £176. 48 Pilkington Royal Lancastrian shallow bowl, decorated with deep orange spatter glaze, yellow ground, impressed factory mark, 3in high, 12in dia. Golding Young & Co, Grantham. Feb 06. HP: £45. ABP: £52. 37 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian vase, c1920, uranium orange glaze, 40cm. Sworders, Stansted Mountfitchet. Apr 06. HP: £110. ABP: £129. 43 Royal Lancastrian footed bowl. Great Western Auctions, Glasgow. Jul 06. HP: £70. ABP: £82. 44 Royal Lancastrian lustre bowl, red/gold interior painted with inverted hearts, deep purple exterior, 5.75in wide. Hartleys, Ilkley. Jun 07. HP: £70. ABP: £82. Unusual Pilkington's Lancastrian scarab beetle paperweight, glazed in a mottled blue, impressed marks, 3.75in. Gorringes, Lewes. Apr 08. HP: £100. ABP: £117. 49 Pilkingtons Royal Lancastrian vase, shouldered ovoid form, everted rim, red and yellow streaky glaze, impressed marks No. 2671, 10in high. Golding Young & Co, Grantham. Feb 06. HP: £45. ABP: £52. 45 50 39 29 Pilkington’s Royal Lancastrian green mottled ware plate, raised sides, imp’d factory mark to underside, No. 2213, 23cm dia. Gorringes, Bexhill. Mar 05. HP: £50. ABP: £58. 42 33 Royal Lancastrian vase, mottled sea green colour, banded with gulls in flight, signed Mycott, 9.25in high. Dee, Atkinson & Harrison, Driffield. Feb 06. HP: £180. ABP: £211. Pilkington Royal Lancastrian vase, decorated by Wm. S. Mycock, painted with simple plant forms, streaky red and yellow ground, impressed and painted marks, 6in high. Golding Young & Co, Grantham. Feb 06. HP: £55. ABP: £64. 47 36 Pilkingtons Lancastrian pottery vase, flared rim, painted with fruiting vines in gold, turquoise lustre ground, 9in high, W. S. Mycock mark, dated 1914. Hartleys, Ilkley. Oct 07. HP: £210. ABP: £247. 46 Three Pilkington’s Lancastrian bowls, two with mottled green glazes, Nos. 3067 and 2465, third with a mushroom coloured glaze, all with impressed marks, 20thC, 26.5cm. (the largest) Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury. Sep 00. HP: £60. ABP: £70. ‘Pilkington’s R. Lancastrian’ lustre jar, greenish glaze, minus lid, base lightly impressed ‘P’, ‘2889’ and ‘England’ and with green Prince of Wales feathers, two glazing faults at base and crazed. A F Brock & Co Ltd, Stockport. Nov 05. HP: £30. ABP: £35. ANTIQUES INFO - November/December 08
Similar documents
Burmantofts Faience
and brown on a cobalt blue
ground impressed marks,
numbered 74, painted marks
DSG.111 (798) and LK
monogram, 7.5in high.
Fieldings, Stourbridge. Apr
05. HP: £400. ABP: £470.
Prices quoted are actua...